Method and system for single-motor-driven, dual-speed, multi-torque-initiating device

Abstract

A method of operating a single-motor-driven, dual-speed, multi-torque-initiating valve actuator is provided. The method includes initiating travel of a valve using a single-motor-driven actuator, wherein the single-motor-driven actuator includes both a high-speed drive and low speed drive. The method includes engaging both the high-speed and low-speed drives to off-seat the valve; disengaging the high-speed drive using a mechanical clutch; and seating the valve by continuing the traveling of the valve with only the low-speed drive. A system having a valve; a single-motor-driven, dual-speed, multi-torque-initiating valve actuator that includes: a high-speed drive having a high-speed worm screw configured to drive a high-speed worm gear, a low-speed drive having a low-speed worm screw configured to drive a low-speed worm gear, is also provided.

1 . A method, comprising:
 initiating traveling of a valve from a single motor-driven actuator,
 wherein the single-motor-driven actuator includes a high-speed drive and a low-speed drive; 
   engaging both the high-speed and low-speed drives to off-seat the valve;   disengaging the high-speed drive using a mechanical clutch; and   seating the valve by continuing the traveling of the valve with only the low-speed drive.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the low-speed drive is permanently coupled to the motor. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the low-speed drive comprises a low-speed clutch. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the low-speed clutch is configured to slip only if the valve is blocked. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the low-speed drive operating during the entire stroke of the actuation of the valve. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising a low-speed worm screw driving a low-speed worm gear. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the low-speed worm gear is directly coupled to a sun gear in a planetary gear set. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the high-speed drive is configured to include a high-speed worm screw. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising driving a high-speed worm gear with the high-speed worm screw. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the high-speed worm gear is configured to operate as the planetary gear set, having external teeth in direct contact with the high-speed worm gear, and internal teeth in direct contact with a plurality of planetary gears. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein driving both a ring of the planetary gear set, and the sun gear results in the planetary gear set configured to operate as a differential. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the high-speed drive is configured to slip via the mechanical clutch when the valve experiences high torque within a set point near a closed position of the valve. 
     
     
         13 . A system, comprising:
 a valve;   a single-motor-driven, dual-speed, multi-torque-initiating valve actuator, the valve actuator including:
 a high-speed drive having a high-speed worm screw configured to drive a high-speed worm gear, 
 a low-speed drive having a low-speed worm screw configured to drive a low-speed worm gear, 
   wherein the valve actuator is configured to:
 initiate valve travel with the single-motor-driven actuator that includes the high-speed drive and the low-speed drive; 
 engage both the high-speed and low-speed drives to off-seat the valve; 
 disengage the high-speed drive using a mechanical clutch; and 
 continue valve travel with the low-speed drive to seat the valve. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , further comprising a sun gear and a plurality of planetary gears positioned within the high-speed worm gear. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the low-speed worm gear is coupled to a side of the sun gear, coupling the low-speed worm gear to the high-speed worm gear. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 14 , wherein the high-speed worm gear has external teeth and internal teeth, and wherein the planetary gears mesh with the internal teeth and the high-speed worm screw meshes with the external teeth. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein the high-speed worm gear is configured to operate as a planetary ring gear. 
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 opening and closing a valve with a single-motor-driven, dual-speed, multi-torque-initiating valve actuator having a motor drive spur; a high-speed worm clutch; high-speed worm screw; a low-speed worm screw; a low-speed worm gear; a sun gear; and a planetary ring gear, the opening and closing including:   initiating valve travel wherein the valve includes a high-speed drive and a low-speed drive;   engaging both the high-speed and low-speed drives to off-seat the valve;   disengaging the high-speed drive using a mechanical clutch; and   continuing valve travel with the low-speed drive to seat the valve.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the planetary ring gear has external gear teeth and internal gear teeth. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the low-speed drive is permanently coupled to the motor and remains in continuous operation throughout the duration of valve travel.